Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun Addresses Coaching Rumors Amid NCAA Tournament Run

The Aggies head coach discusses his mindset on open jobs like Cincinnati as his team makes a tournament push.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:41pm

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Utah State head basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun addressed the rumors surrounding his name being linked to potential head coaching openings, including the Cincinnati job, during his team's NCAA Tournament run. Calhoun said he tries to stay focused on the moment and not get distracted by the coaching change speculation, noting that Utah State coaches are often rumored for other jobs when they have success. Despite his team's strong metrics, Calhoun was frustrated by the Aggies' 9-seed in the tournament, feeling they deserved a 6 or 7 seed.

Why it matters

Calhoun's comments provide insight into how top coaches handle the distractions of job rumors during the high-pressure environment of the NCAA Tournament. His experience and perspective on the coaching carousel could make him an attractive candidate for programs like Cincinnati that are searching for a new head coach.

The details

Calhoun, the head coach at Utah State, discussed the effect of coaching change speculation on his team as they prepared for their first-round NCAA Tournament game against Villanova. He acknowledged that Utah State coaches are often rumored for other jobs when the program has success, but said he tries to keep his team focused on the moment and not get distracted by the noise. Calhoun was particularly frustrated by Utah State's 9-seed in the tournament, feeling the team's strong metrics should have earned them a 6 or 7 seed.

  • On Selection Sunday, Calhoun voiced his frustration about Utah State's 9-seed in the tournament.
  • Utah State defeated Villanova in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2026.

The players

Jerrod Calhoun

The head basketball coach at Utah State University, who has led the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament this season.

Cincinnati Bearcats

The men's basketball team at the University of Cincinnati, which is currently searching for a new head coach.

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What they’re saying

“We've had these rumors for years, right? I mean, when's the last Utah State coach that hasn't been rumored for a job? Anytime you have success, coaches are trying to steal your players, and athletic directors certainly want to talk to the coaches. So continue to have inner excellence. Realize these things are not easy to come by. You don't take your days for granted. You live in the moment, you stay present, and you worry about the Wildcats. The has really been my focus.”

— Jerrod Calhoun, Head Coach, Utah State Aggies

“Really happy with the location for our fans and for our players—obviously San Diego is close—but I think the seed was absolutely atrocious. The one thing we don't have is the (Quad 1) wins, but we've got great metrics on both sides of the ball. We're top 30 in offense, top 50 in defense. I thought for sure a six or a seven (seed), was really hoping for one of those.”

— Jerrod Calhoun, Head Coach, Utah State Aggies

What’s next

Cincinnati is expected to fill its head coaching vacancy in the next week to prepare for the upcoming transfer portal season, which opens on April 7. Jerrod Calhoun is considered a prime candidate for the job.

The takeaway

Jerrod Calhoun's experience and perspective on handling coaching rumors during high-pressure tournament runs could make him an attractive candidate for programs like Cincinnati that are seeking a new head coach. His ability to keep his team focused despite the distractions speaks to his leadership qualities.